We like the Olympics!

As a kid, one of my favorite things to do was watch the Olympics on TV. Whenever it was on, whether it be the summer or the winter games, I was hooked and there was nothing anyone could do to pull me away from the TV until it was over. I would watch it even if there was a chance to go to Chuck E. Cheese on the line! Then, when the Olympics did finally end, you could see me doing laps around the yard like the track and field runners or sledding down my parents’ hill in the backyard pretending I was doing the luge. So having the Olympics on during my maternity leave has been really kewl because it gives Ryan and me a special way to bond. It lets me relieve my childhood a bit while being able to spend time with him. :) 

Okay, let me say that I understand that the little guy can’t really watch the Olympics with me, but it does give us something to do together when he just feels like being held and kept close. I hold him, make him feel comfortable and secure and at the same time, get to watch people pursue their dreams. We have been watching during our play time as well. It’s kind of funny actually since I picture him swimming when he’s kicking up a storm during tummy time or when he’s on his back swatting away with his hands, I think about him boxing or something. I know, it’s all pretty premature, but it’s still fun to think about!  

Now since the Olympics are on pretty much day and night and on a whole bunch of channels, we’ve been watching all kinds of events these past few weeks. One of my favorites so far, and Ryan’s too, would have to be team handball. Really, team handball is where it’s at because it’s a cross between basketball, soccer, and football. Bodies are flying all over the place and it’s just interesting to watch. Another sport that has kept my attention is women’s soccer. In the past, wasn’t much of a soccer fan, yet watching the US women’s team play has been entertaining and when the team won the gold medal over Japan, it was an inspiring site to see. I also enjoy watching track and field, especially the field events. The pole vault is crazy! It takes a lot of balls to fly high up into the air to try to get over a bar only to clear that bar and fall onto a padded mat. I tried it once in college and once was enough for me.

Not sure what's up, but at least they look happy!

We don’t like all of the sports that are on the Olympics though and sometimes I wonder why they’re even considered a sport at all. Case in point, synchronized swimming. Sure, you have to be fit to do it, yet it’s not timed, it’s judged and all of the swimmers look so darn creepy. I don’t know, it just puts me off for some reason.  Table tennis kind of baffles me too. It’s more of a hobby, like a way to pass the time from my perspective. Just something to do when you’re bored and to have it be a sport pretty much boggles my mind. They don’t sweat or anything and at one point, I woke Ryan up with how hard I was laughing when men’s doubles table tennis was on. There wasn’t enough room for them all to be around that little table, it was just comical. And I don’t mean to make fun, I’m just saying.

When the Olympics come to an end, I’m going to be a little sad, yet in two years we’ll get to watch the winter games and in four years, we’ll get to watch the summer games again. It’s something to look forward to! With that, I must be off! It’s time for Ryan and me to go for a little walk. I say little because I’m still not able to do a whole bunch, however, there will be a time when I’ll be doing triathlons again! So, until my next blog post, it’s Carla the tomboy, and new mom, saying farewell!  

Never thought that would happen…

I mentioned awhile back on Facebook that Ryan’s umbilical cord fell off and we couldn’t find it, well guess what, we still haven’t found the icky thing and it makes me wonder where the hell it went? What I find kind of interesting is how it really, really, really bothers me that we can’t find it and the reason being is that I actually wanted to save it and put it in a memory box that I’m keeping for him. That in itself is pretty darn gross. I mean, who saves something like this. Well, a doting mother does and what I’m discovering is that this tomboy is turning into a one!

It’s just kind of strange since I never thought that I would A., Become a mother and B., Become one that obsessively dotes over her child. He’s so cute and all I want to do is take pictures of him, show him off to people, and track his progress through this weird thing that we call life. Take the two below pictures as an example, the first shows his weird belly button with the umbilical cord attached to it. Then the second shows what his belly button looks like after the umbilical cord has fallen off. I think it turned out well! :) 

 

Ryan's umbilical cord is still attached!

Now it's not!

In the past, I would have found it to odd for any parent to care about what his or her child’s belly button looked like. I mean, who really cares. It’s a belly button, it really doesn’t serve a purpose, and who gives a flip what it looks like! However now that I’m a parent, I get why any parent would care given that, that’s your flesh and blood and you care about whatever your little guy or gal does! So, it seems pretty normal to me to be interested in any subject related to my child as is the case with other things that the little guy does. Like, Ryan can hold his head up pretty well now without face planting, he kicks with the best of them, and sometimes during tummy time he’ll even wiggle himself across the floor. Seeing him grow and get stronger has been such a unique and rewarding experience, all I can say is that I’m truly blessed.

My only fear of being a doting mother is that I’m going to turn into one of those over the top, psycho soccer moms and I definitely don’t want that to happen. I’ve seen too many of them over the years during my high school reporting days and they creep up in other sports too. They scream, complain, and are all over the place! There are dads who act the same way too and it’s not a pretty sight! They not only embarrass themselves, but they embarrass their kids and it’s just not a good thing! So, it’s my ultimate goal not to become one!

Well, the little guy is starting to wake up and that closes my blogging window for today. I hope everyone is enjoying the summer and until we meet again, it’s Carla the new mom and tomboy signing off!

Oh, the joy of eight straight hours of sleep!

So, for the past two nights, my dear husband did something that was completely wonderful, he got up with Ryan the entire night and let me get eight straight hours of sleep. Actually, I think it ended up being nine straight hours of sleep both nights and all I can say is that I feel like a completely new person. Typically, we will split up the night and take turns taking care of Ryan. However, the last two nights, Dave went above and beyond and let me sleep, it was heaven! I don't know how he does it and for him to let me sleep a whole bunch has been completely wonderful, thanks honey, I love you!

Super Dad and Ryan...I don't know what I would do without Dave! :)

Now, what I've learned during Ryan’s first three weeks of life is that sleeping and taking care of a newborn do not go hand in hand. Like, not one bit, not at all and one piece of advice that I want to debunk in this post is that whole deal about you need to sleep when your baby sleeps stuff.  In the last two or so months, I think I’ve heard that comment from more than 20 people and guess what, it doesn’t work. I’ve tried on numerous occasions to sleep when Ryan sleeps and it has yet to stick. Why? There are a variety of reasons. One, I need to eat and when he’s asleep, it gives me a prime opportunity to do so. I mean come on, it’s not like I can make a sandwich with one hand while I’m holding him with the other. Thus, when he’s snoring away, I can head to the kitchen and get some fuel to keep going. My favorite foods to snack on are Golden Grahams, string cheese, carrots, and peanut butter and jelly. They are all really fast and easy to make. Oh, and I really enjoy being able to drink as much coffee as I want too! :) When I was pregnant, the caffeine intake had to be limited, yet now, I can go nuts if I feel like it!

Anyway, another reason why I can’t sleep when Ryan sleeps is I like to stay clean. When he’s awake, he needs my soul attention and that means, no taking my eyes off of him. Sure, it’s not like he’s running all over the place, but I can’t let him sit in his crib or in his swing for 20 or so minutes (Yes, I take long showers now because that’s my relaxation time) and expect him to stay happy and occupied. He needs to be watched when he’s awake, even when he’s in his crib or swing, so, the only time I have to shower is while he’s snoozing.  Even then, I have his monitor in the bathroom with me to make sure he’s okay and if he starts to cry or whatever, I cut the shower short. That’s only happened on one occasion, so, I’ve been lucky.

I also can’t sleep when he sleeps since things need to get done around the house. People always say, “Oh, just leave the housework and take care of yourself.” Well guess what, that’s definitely easier said than done due to the fact that if it doesn’t get done, then things get chaotic and extremely messy. For instance, as soon as Ryan goes to sleep the first thing I do is check to make sure he has enough formula to eat, if not, then that needs to be made and if his bottles are dirty, then those need to be cleaned so he has something to eat out of. That takes about 15 or so minutes to get done. Then, if he has dirty laundry, that needs to be started and that takes another 15 or so minutes to get done. After that, there are our dirty dishes to take care of and if the Beaver our dog doesn’t get some attention at some point, he freaks out so I need to play with him.

Poor dog hasn't been adjusting well. :(

When I’m done playing with Beaver and have let him out outside, which takes about a half an hour, then it’s time put Ryan’s laundry in the dryer, and in a blink of an eye, an hour, hour and a half has gone by and that leaves me about an hour to take a nap before Ryan starts to wake up for his next feeding. That may sound like enough time to get some sleep, yet it really isn’t because more often than not as soon as I fall asleep, he wakes up and I feel worse than I would have without even going to sleep at all. So, I would rather just kind of veg out for that time, like play on Facebook or watch TV, and wait until I need to get Ryan’s laundry done and then eventually get Ryan to change and feed him. It’s just easier than falling into a deep sleep only to wake up 30 or so minutes later.

Basically when it comes down to it, sleeping when your newborn sleeps just doesn’t seem to work for me and it’s not advice that I would pass along myself to new parents. What I would suggest to new parents would be to simply take turns taking care of your little guy or gal with your partner. If you split up the duties, then, everyone will get some rest and for me and Dave, there does seem to be some light at the end of the tunnel with Ryan’s sleeping habits. Last night, Dave told me that Ryan slept from 10:30 pm till a little after 4 am straight. Dave stayed up to check on him once and awhile to make sure that he was okay and tonight, we have our fingers crossed that Ryan will sleep through the night again. All I know is that we just have to stay the course and if we do, we’ll all end up getting all the rest that we’ll need at some point! Sweet! And yes, Dave is taking a well deserved nap right now and I have every intention of doing something nice for him for all the support he has given me! There will definitely be some eight or nine straight hours of uninterrupted sleep for him in the future! :) Just saying!

Well, that’s about all I have for today. I’ll let you know what happens with Ryan’s sleeping in my next blog post. So stay tuned and until next time, it’s Carla the new mom and tomboy signing off!